Tamping tool

ABSTRACT

A tamping tool for tamping ballast in place is disclosed. The tamping tool has a shank leading to a paddle having a lower portion and defining an open-ended recess having converging sidewalls and one or more wear tiles made of a hardened materials such as tungsten carbide provided at least partially within the recess and coupled to the sidewalls of the recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/698,533 filed on Jul. 16, 2018, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of tamping machines and tools. The present invention more specifically relates to the field of tamping tools for adjusting and leveling ballast under railroad ties and tracks.

Railroad tracks are typically supported by ties, which rest upon ballast. Ballast is typically comprised of crushed stone, rocks, or gravel. The ballast is packed below and around the railroad ties to, among other things, bear the load from the railroad ties, facilitate water drainage, and hold the track in place. Over time, the ballast can shift or otherwise move out of place from its position packed around and below the railroad ties. Ballast tamping machines, which often run along the track, are used to move and/or tamp ballast back into place to keep the ties and track adequately supported by the ballast.

Ballast tamping machines utilize replaceable tamping tools that compress the ballast. These tools repeatedly make contact with the ballast as they are moved along the track. As a result, the tamping tools undergo a great deal of wear from the impact. Known tamping tools frequently break down, come apart, or wear quickly as a result of the impact with the ballast and need to be replaced.

In some cases, the tamping tool will include wear-resistant materials provided on top of the tool to help extend the life to the tool but, even then, the wear-resistant materials will often fall off due to the impact with ballast and contact with other components of the railroad system. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,726,246 and 5,261,763, which are incorporated in their entireties herein by reference, disclose ballast-tamping tools with abrasion or wear-resistant material provided on the face of the blade of the tool, however, the material tends to break off as the tool is used, causing the tool in turn to break and require replacement.

Therefore, a tamping tool that resists wear and withstands the impact without requiring frequent replacement is needed.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a tamping tool which overcomes this and other difficulties is provided.

The paddle may include six faces—a front, back, left, right, bottom and top sides. In one or more embodiments, the paddle couples to the shank on a lower portion of the shank. In an exemplary embodiment, a lower portion or tip of the paddle defines a recess, groove or channel. One or more tiles or wear tiles (e.g., a row of wear tiles) are provided in the recess.

Although it is known in the art to provide a wear-resistant material on the outside of a tool, the present configuration has led to decreased damage, increased shock absorption, and improved overall durability over known tamping-tool configurations. Wear tiles stay on the tool much longer over known tamping tools, leading to preservation of the paddle, and decreased replacement frequency.

The present disclosure provides a tamping tool comprising a shank having an upper and lower portion; a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle defining an open-ended recess having sidewalls that converge inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the shank; and one or more wear tiles at least partially provided in the recess.

The present disclosure provides a tamping tool comprising: a shank having an upper and lower portion, a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle having multiple leading edges; whereby sidewalls extend from each edge towards the shank to a shared edge or radius to define at least one open-ended recess; and whereby one or more wear tiles are at least partially provided in each recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various examples of embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods according to this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a tamping tool, according to various examples of embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the tamping tool of FIG. 1, according to various examples of embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the tamping tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the tamping tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a tamping tool, according to various examples of embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the tamping tool of FIG. 5:

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the tamping tool of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of a tamping tool, according to various examples of embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates an end view of the tamping tool of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the tamping tool of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of a tamping tool, according to various examples of embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates an end view of the tamping tool of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the tamping tool of FIG. 11.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to the understanding of the invention or render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures, example embodiments of a tamping tool are provided.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a tamping tool 100, including a shank 102 having an upper portion 104 and a lower portion 106. In various embodiments, shank 102 includes four sides extending between upper portion 104 and lower portion 106. Between lower portion 106 and upper portion 104, in various embodiments, shank 102 tapers or may be beveled between sides and/or from side to side. The upper portion of the shank may define multiple apertures (not shown) which may be utilized to help couple the tamping tool to a tamping machine. Additional or fewer apertures may be defined in similar or different locations in the shank.

Tamping tool 100 also includes a paddle 108. In various embodiments, paddle 108 includes a lower portion or end 110 that defines a recess, grove or channel 112. In various embodiments, recess, groove or channel 112 is at least partially defined or formed by sidewalls 114 a, 114 b extending from a leading margin or edge 115 a, or one or more leading margins or edges 115 a, 115 b. In various examples of embodiments, recess, groove or channel 112 tapers or otherwise generally converges inwardly toward a longitudinal axis 116 of tamping tool 100.

The recess, grove or channel may take a variety of shapes. For example, and referring now to FIGS. 2-4, in various embodiments, tamping tool 100 includes shank 102 and paddle 108 having a recess, grove or channel 112 with a “V” cross-sectional shape. For example, in various embodiments, recess, groove or channel 112 has sidewalls 114 a, 114 b converging toward an edge 118 (e.g., a shared edge running through or near longitudinal axis 116).

As another example, and referring now to FIGS. 5-13, in various embodiments, the recess, grove or channel includes a cross-sectional radius. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5-7, a tamping tool 200 is provided according to various examples of embodiments. In various embodiments, tamping tool 200 includes shank 102 and a paddle 208 having a lower portion or end 210 that defines a recess, grove or channel 212 having a modified “V” cross-sectional shape. For example, in various embodiments, recess, groove or channel 212 has sidewalls 214 a, 214 b converging (e.g., toward a longitudinal axis 216) toward, to or in a radius 218 (e.g., a radius at or near a longitudinal axis 216).

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, a tamping tool 300 is provided according to various examples of embodiments. In various embodiments, tamping tool 300 includes shank 102 and a paddle 308 having a lower portion or end 310 that defines a recess, grove or channel 312 having a parabolic cross-sectional shape. For example, in various embodiments, recess, groove or channel 312 has sidewalls 314 a, 314 b converging (e.g., toward a longitudinal axis 316) in a radius 318 (e.g., a radius at or near longitudinal axis 316).

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, a tamping tool 400 is provided according to various examples of embodiments. In various embodiments, tamping tool 400 includes shank 102 and a paddle 408 having a lower portion or end 410 that defines a recess, grove or channel 412 having a semi-circular cross-sectional or a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape. For example, in various embodiments, recess, groove or channel 412 has side walls 414 a, 414 b converging in a circular manner (e.g., toward a longitudinal axis 416) in a radius 418 (e.g., a radius at or near longitudinal axis 416).

A row of wear tiles are provided in the recess, grove or channel. In various embodiments, the wear tiles will have a coupling portion shaped to fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess, groove or channel of the lower portion or end of the paddle.

For example, referring again to FIGS. 2-4, tamping tool 100 includes a single wear tile or row of wear tiles 120 (e.g., one or more teardrop cross-sectional shaped tiles) provided in recess, groove or channel 112 of paddle 108, wear tile(s) 120 having a lead portion 122 and having a coupling portion 124 having a “V” cross-sectional shape and/or another shape configured to substantially fit “V” cross-sectional shaped recess, groove or channel 112.

As another example, and referring again to FIGS. 5-7, tamping tool 200 includes a single wear tile or row of wear tiles 220 (e.g., one or more teardrop cross-sectional shaped tiles) provided in recess, groove or channel 212 of paddle 208, wear tile(s) 220 having a lead portion 222, and having a coupling portion 224 having a modified or blunted “V” cross-sectional shape and/or another shape configured to substantially fit modified or blunted “V” cross-sectional shaped recess, groove or channel 212.

As another example, and referring again to FIGS. 8-10, tamping tool 300 includes a single wear tile or row of wear tiles 320 (e.g., one or more oblong cross-sectional shaped tiles) provided in recess, groove or channel 312 of paddle 308, wear tile(s) 320 having a lead portion 322, and having a coupling portion 324 having a parabolic cross-sectional shape and/or another shape configured to substantially fit parabolic cross-sectional shaped recess, groove or channel 312.

As another example, and referring again to FIGS. 11-13, tamping tool 400 includes a single wear tile or row of wear tiles 420 (e.g., one or more circular cross-sectional shaped tiles) provided in recess, groove or channel 412 of paddle 408, wear tile(s) 420 having a lead portion 422, and having a coupling portion 424 having a semicircular or semi-annular cross-sectional shape and/or another shape configured to substantially fit the semicircular or semi-annular cross-sectional shaped recess, groove or channel 412.

As shown in FIG. 1, paddle 108, 208, 308, 408 and shank 102 are integrally formed. It should be appreciated, however, that in other embodiments the paddle and shank may be coupled in other ways including welding. Shank 102 and paddle 108, 208, 308, 408 may be formed of metal such as iron or steel, but may also be formed in whole or part of an alloy such as a carbon-based alloy. In various embodiments, shank 102 and/or paddle 108, 208, 308, 408 are forged but may also be heat-treated (e.g., to improve the hardness of the material).

The disclosed wear tiles and paddle recess, grove or channel provide a number of advantages. Most specifically, the disclosed wear tiles are relatively easier to manufacture than known wear tiles for known tamping tool paddles. In addition, the disclosed wear tiles and paddles are less expensive to manufacture relative to known tamping tools. In addition, the disclosed wear tiles and paddles provide improved overall durability over known tamping-tool configurations. Wear tiles stay on the tool much longer over known tamping tools, leading to preservation of the paddle, and decreased replacement frequency.

In an exemplary embodiment, the wear tiles are made of a hardened, or wear- or abrasion-resistant, material such as tungsten carbide. It should be recognized that one skilled in the art could substitute a variety of metals in particular mixtures to achieve the invention disclosed. The wear tile and/or tiles may be provided on and/or coupled to the paddle and/or shank in a variety of ways. For example, the tiles and/or wear tiles may be coupled to the paddle and/or shank by brazing, soldering, gluing, etc. While a silver braze or filler metal is utilized to couple the tile and wear tiles to the paddle and/or shank, it should be appreciated that a variety of brazes or filler metals may be utilized including a silver-brass filler metal.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

It should be noted that references to relative positions (e.g., “front” and “back” and “upper” and “lower”) in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the Figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular components may vary greatly depending on the application in which they are used.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the apparatus, methods, and devices as shown in the various examples of embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied (e.g. by variations in the number of engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of engagement). The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various examples of embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present inventions.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the examples of embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the examples of embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamping tool comprising: a shank having an upper and lower portion; a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle defining an open-ended recess having sidewalls that converge inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the shank; and one or more wear tiles at least partially provided in the recess.
 2. The tamping tool of claim 1, whereby the recess has a cross-sectional V-shape.
 3. The tamping tool of claim 2, whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess.
 4. The tamping tool of claim 3, whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles are brazed to the recess.
 5. The tamping tool of claim 1, whereby the sidewalls taper to and converge in a radius.
 6. The tamping tool of claim 5, whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess.
 7. The tamping tool of claim 6, whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles is brazed to the recess.
 8. The tamping tool of claim 1, whereby the sidewalls curve to form a semi-circular recess.
 9. The tamping tool of claim 8, whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess.
 10. The tamping tool of claim 9, whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles is brazed to the recess.
 11. The tamping tool of claim 1, whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of an abrasion-resistant material.
 12. The tamping tool of claim 11, whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of tungsten carbide.
 13. A tamping tool comprising: a shank having an upper and lower portion, a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle having multiple leading edges; whereby sidewalls extend from each edge towards the shank to a shared edge or radius to define at least one open-ended recess; and whereby one or more wear tiles are at least partially provided in each recess.
 14. The tamping tool of claim 13, whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the recess.
 15. The tamping tool of claim 14, whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles are brazed to the recess.
 16. The tamping tool of claim 13, whereby the recess has a cross-sectional V-shape.
 17. The tamping tool of claim 13, whereby the recess has a parabolic cross-sectional shape.
 18. The tamping tool of claim 13, whereby the recess has a semicircular cross-sectional shape.
 19. The tamping tool of claim 13, whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of an abrasion-resistant material.
 20. The tamping tool of claim 18, whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of tungsten carbide. 